Graham: Let’s ‘pass the DREAM Act for better border security’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that Congress should pass legislation restoring the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program along with renewed border security measures, an idea he claims could get bipartisan support. 

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Tuesday that President Trump would end DACA, an Obama administration program that provided immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children with work permits and protections from deportation.

DACA recipients “know no other country, they’re a great value to America, so we’ll pass the DREAM Act for better border security to make sure we don’t have 11 million more illegal immigrants 20 years from now,” Graham said on CNN’s New Day.

.@LindseyGrahamSC: Let’s “do a deal” to secure the border in return for giving DACA recipients “what they deserve”
https://t.co/dyHwkl3R7j

— New Day (@NewDay) September 6, 2017

DACA currently provides work permits and protection from deportation to nearly 800,000 immigrants, who have been dubbed “Dreamers” by their supporters.

Trump’s move will allow Congress until March to pass legislation codifying the program into law. If Congress does not act in that time, Trump tweeted Tuesday that he will “revisit the issue.” 

“My advice to the president would be you come up with a border security plan that’s reasonable, that will secure our border, then I think I can get Democrats on board for the idea of border security plus the DREAM Act. Plus, we actually need to do both,” Graham said.

When asked what he wants the president to do on border security, Graham said Trump should “find what border security looks like, and see if we can do a deal where we secure our border and … give the DREAM Act kids what they deserve which is to stay in the country they call home.” 

Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate have already begun talks on passing legislation to continue the program, which would allow DACA recipients to stay in the country. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) suggested Tuesday that Democrats should consider including DACA in the efforts to raise the federal debt ceiling and provide relief funding for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. 

“Let’s do two things, make a down payment on fixing the broken immigration system, and give these kids the life they deserve,” Graham said.